Smokey Bear Ranger District to host field trip

RUIDOSO The public is invited to participate in a field trip assessments of various thinning projects being implemented or completed in the Ruidoso Area.

Lincoln National Forest's Smokey Bear Ranger District personnel are providing this opportunity in an effort to increase public awareness and involvement in wildland urban interface treatments on National Forest lands.

"Some of the areas that we will be visiting are adjacent to Ruidoso and neighboring communities," Dan Ray, District Fuels Specialist said. "Myself and several other Forest Service employees will be on hand to speak about the effectiveness of treatments that have been done in the past, what is currently being implemented and what is planned for the future."

The field trips involve a loop drive that will begin and end at the Smokey Bear Ranger Station, 901 Mechem Dr., Ruidoso.

The field trips are scheduled between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Nov. 3, Nov. 10 and Nov. 17. Several stops will be made along the route that will include brief walks to access the treated areas. Forest Service vehicles will escort the caravan.

LNF Spokeswoman Loretta L. Benavidez said car-pooling with other participants who have high clearance vehicles will be necessary.